Slipper-sole.



E. A. BICKFORD.

SLIPPER SOLE.

' APPLICATION FILED 1AN.2.1915.

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Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

ERNEST A. BICKFORD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SLIPPER-SOLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110. 2e, 1915.

Application mea January 2, i915. serial No. 4s.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST A. BICKFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Slipper-Sole, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a slipper sole of the type known as the lambs wool sole.

The principal'objects of this invention are to provide a construction for this purpose in which the attaching strip for the upper shall have no function except that of supplying means by which the upper can be attached so that it can be made of soft `material not likely to be uncomfortable to the wearer; to provide a construction in which the stitching for securing this attaching strip in position will also secure-the different parts of the sole firmly together and yet will `pre- 1 sent no stitches in a position on which any wear comes in use; to provide a construction in which the attaching strip cannot part or become detached from the sole and in which heavy substantial leather can be used to great' advantage for the sole instead of the flimsy constructions previously employed and which will admit of `great economy in methods of manufacture.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a part of a lambs wool sole constructed in accordance with this invention showing the attaching strip secured part way around; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view transverse to Fig. 2, also showing the upper in position.

rlhe article as shown in the drawings comprises a foundation member a of the required shape preferably of leather board or of some other suitable relatively stiff material. This sole is usually covered on the top with a layer of fabric as duck or drill. The outsole b is of soft pliable leather attached to the uncovered side, that is, the bottom of the foundation member a, and its edges are completely turned up around the edge of the foundation member and are securely attached to its upper or canvas surface, preferably by cementing.

A soft attachment strip c is provided along the top of the sole as so far described, that is on the upper surface at the outer edge of the soft leather portion which is inturned. rThis attachment strip may be of cord, braid or similar material and is comparatively heavy so that the upper Z can be stitched to it in a convenient manner, yet it is preferred to makeit of a very soft material so.,that it .will not constitute a hard projecting ridge to come against the foot of the wearer. I prefer to use a soft round cord for this purpose and have so shown it. This strip is secured to the sole by overstitching vwhich comprises inclined or diagonal stitches-e through the upturned and inturned portion of the outer sole Z) and through .the kcorner of kthe foundation member a and also comprises stitches e on the/ outer edge of the sole extending up from the bottom of the stitches e, and further 4stitches e2 at .the top. The stitches e are of two kinds, every alternate one being arrangedbn an incline and-theothers vertically. The stitches e2 pass over the top of the attaching strip c and together this stitching, which is all made by a well known machine, securely holds the attaching strip in position and also secures it firmly not only to the outer sole but to the foundation member a and secures these two parts together also. But it is to be noticed that this stitching emerges from the surface of the sole at a point well above the bottom surface on which the weight of the wearer is borne and which is subjected to wear. This is an important feature because it prevents the stitches themselves `being worn 0E readily in practice and thus adds greatly to the durability of the article.

By placing the attachment strip on the outside upper edge of the sole and securing it there by the inclined overstitching the member a, the soft leather' outsole Z), and the attachment strip o are united securely. In this way the attachment strip cannot part or let go, which has been a disadvantage of the draw strings heretofore used in some cases. This construction obviates altogether the necessity of a draw string. The attachment strip cannot become detached from the sole because the diagonal stitching is not presented to the wearing surface of the sole and for this reason this construction presents an important advantage over the usual through and through stitching which is eX- posed on the wearing surface of the sole and materially reduces the life of the whole article.

0n account of the attachment strip serving no other purpose it may be of alsoft nature, such as is best adapted forothat purpose alone, thus presenting a soft surface to the foot without any harsh or unyielding substance in it and it is also easy nto sew the upper to it by means of stitches f.

Furthermore, a heavy cord although soft 'out when the stitches on the bottom were "worn away.

This device permits of great economy in methods of manufacture and furnishes a sole with an attractive edge finish protecting the outer edge of the sole from wear.

The lambs wool insert is indicated at g.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinwithout departing from lber and secured to the upper surface thereof, a large round soft attachment strip lying along the edge on top of said outsole, and a line of stitching securely uniting said foundation member outsole, and yattachment strip to each other, said stitching entering the sole along a line just above the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set" my hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. Y

, ERNEST A. BIoKFoRD.

Witnesses: f ALBERT E. FAY,

CATHARINE I. HARTNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

